Abenomics drives Nikkei to highest yearly gain since 1972

Japan's main bourse has posted its steepest annual rise in more than 40 years following 12 months of "Abenomics", the new Japanese premier's suite of measures to catapult the economy out of a decades-long slump.

The Nikkei rose for a ninth consecutive session to close 0.7pc higher on its final trading day of the year, bringing its full-year climb to 57pc, the highest since 1972. Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, swept to power in late 2012 on promises to return Japan's economy to health after decades of stagnation.